May 9, 2024
1984 Olympic Women's Marathon Champion Joan Benoit Samuelson On Using Running As Storytelling; Completing All Six World Marathon Majors At 66 Years Old
The CITIUS MAG Podcast | A Running + Track and Field ShowAbout this episode
“It's through storytelling that I keep myself going… I've been blessed to be able to stick with it all these years. I had a partial knee replacement in the middle of COVID and we waited until I found a surgeon who told me that I'd run again… When you set your sights on something, it's hard to let go. I always try to finish what I start. I was on that six-star journey and I wanted to complete it.” Joan Benoit Samuelson is a legend in our sport. The first-ever Olympic women’s marathon champion, two-time Boston Marathon champion (1979 & 1983), 1985 Chicago Marathon champion and former American record holder is still running and inspiring at 66 years old. In March, she finally received her Abbott World Marathon Major six star medal after completing the Tokyo Marathon in 3:38:37. Before the pandemic, Benoit Samuelson was looking to extend her sub-three hour marathon streak across six decades. She ran 3:02:21 at the 2019 Berlin Marathon and then underwent a partial right knee replacement surgery in 2020. Two years ago, she ran 3:20:20 at the London Marathon and won her respective age group. I had the pleasure of catching her for a bit while in Boston, where she was on-site as an ambassador for Abbott. In this conversation, we talk about how she continues to utilize running as storytelling, her mark on the sport, how she’s inspired so many women and a little bit about what’s next after completing all six World Marathon Majors. Host: Chris Chavez | @chris_j_chavez on Instagram Host: Joan Benoit Samuelson | @joanbenoitsamuelson on Instagram Time stamps: 4:48 - How she’s feeling after becoming a World Marathon Majors Six Star finisher. 6:02 - How she finds the motivation to continue training + how she goes about goal setting. 8:25 - The story she wants to begin writing for herself now that the Six Stars are accomplished. 10:10 - How she inspires others through sharing her story. 15:04 - Her relationship with other elite women marathoners. 16:44 - Her philosophy on running + what the sport means to her. 18:20 - Her relationship with the running community. SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS 👟 NEW BALANCE: Discover the ultimate running shoe: Fresh Foam X 1080. With unbeatable comfort and top-tier performance, it's perfect for any occasion, from daily runs to races. Its innovative design includes Fresh Foam X midsole for seamless transitions and a breathable, supportive mesh upper. Visit NewBalance.com/Running 🍊 OLIPOP: This Barbie has great gut health! Introducing Barbie: Peaches & Cream flavor, the newest addition to Olipop’s lineup, guaranteed to make your summer sparkle brighter than ever before. Order online today and use code CITIUS25 for 25% off your order at https://DrinkOlipop.com (click the link or use our promotional code for the discount) 🏴 BANDIT RUNNING : Bandit's support of unsponsored track and field athletes at the U.S. Olympic Trials is back with their Unsponsored Project. Last year, Bandit partnered with several athletes by supplying those athletes with custom, unbranded Bandit singlets to help them stand out and underscore their unsponsored status. With breakthroughs or strong performances, hopefully, it will attract major sponsors. If you're an athlete interested in support, reach out to Tim Rossi at timrossi@banditrunning.com BONUS: CITIUS MAG Podcast listeners get 15% off their first order at https://banditrunning.com using CITIUS15. HOW TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST 💻 Visit CITIUSMAG.com 🎙️ Subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts . 🎥 Subscribe to the CITIUS MAG YouTube channel